Reese Kaplan -- So How Do the Mets Improve the Roster?

With baseball returning, the conversations about who the Mets have, who they need and who they should acquire are hot and heavy anywhere fans gather.  As usual, there's major disagreement among the masses, but as long as it's good-natured and we know that the game will resume shortly, all is well and good.  

Right now one of the major topics d'jour is who will be the Mets' Designated Hitter since that AL-artifact is now a part of the senior circuit as well.  The club is not without internal candidates.  Elder offensive statesman Robinson Cano is a top choice as some feel he has lost a step or two in his range and will likely preserve his hitting ability longer if he doesn't put the additional strain on his body.  Of course, Cano is fresh off a full year unpaid suspension for his second PED violation and if he does not take the enhancers are we in for another 2019 version of the former Mariner?  It's kind of putting the Mets between a rock and a hard place as his underperforming would make him a very expensive bench piece while a career normal year will have the regulatory folks employed by Major League Baseball looking to see if his productivity is enhanced by something in a syringe.

Another option for the Mets is to use a platoon partnership of out-of-favor guys with power -- lefty swinging Dominic Smith and righty masher J.D. Davis.  The problem is Smith is coming off a poor year in 2021 and Davis while hitting at a very respectable .285 batting average has been lacking power since injuries affected his hands.  Back in 2019 Davis was a revelation, hitting .307 with 22 HRs in 453 ABs.  Similarly, Smith has had moments in the sun, too.  In 2019 and 2020 combined Smith hit .299 with 21 HRs in just 354 ABs.  The hope here is that both regain their run producing ability and together would add up to a formidable DH force.  Of course, others are convinced that their downturns in 2021 were the permanent end of their careers and they've given up on them entirely.  

Another approach would be to acquire an outfielder or DH from outside the organization.  If it's an outfielder, then newcomer Mark Canha enters the DH conversation as well given his power and OBP abilities.  If it's a DH then Canha remains an outfield starter.  There are some terrific hitters out there like Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and Nelson Cruz who would slide neatly in the DH role while preserving better defense on the field.  No one knows which way the Mets are planning to go with this newly created NL Designated Hitter.

The bigger question for the team and for its fans concerns pitching.  While everyone is ecstatic about Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer heading up the rotation, that enthusiasm wanes quickly given the horrific second halves by starters number three and four -- Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrasco.  Walker was brilliant in the first half earning an All Star nod, but was just as bad as Carrasco in part two.  An average year from Walker would result in a sub 4.00 ERA.  Carlos Carrasco has been even better.  With proper rest and health they are certainly credible starting pitchers.

It's when you get to the fifth starter that people start sweating and reaching for antacid.  No one knows what a full year of Tylor Megill, David Peterson or others would deliver, so many are pushing the Mets to obtain another proven starting pitcher.  We've all heard many of the names already available in free agency and via trade, so there's no point in rehashing right now.  Still, it would make the Mets much more formidable as an opponent if they could land a lefty with polish.  (Update: On Saturday the Mets did trade two prospects for right handed starting pitcher Chris Bassitt from Oakland who was an All Star last season).  

In the bullpen the same issue arises.  There are no southpaws on the staff and there's likely room for two more pitchers to be added to the relief corps.  With Aaron Loup, Robert Gsellman and Jeurys Familia no longer a part of the mix, there are a lot of innings needed to be handled when the starters depart early.  The names here are well known, too, but the thinking may be a bit off center in that I'd advocate getting not one but two left handed firemen.  That way the Mets are prepared to handle lefty bats even when the first pitcher has been used.  (Update: On Sunday the Mets signed Adam Ottavino on a one-year deal for $4 million pending a physical).  

There are other needs the Mets must address -- defensive metrics, stolen bases, keeping opposing runners off base and adjusting to the new veteran manager, Buck Showalter.  Everyone is anxious for the abbreviated Spring Training to begin as much as they are for roster decisions to be made.  COVID is sliding downhill, masks are coming off in many places and with baseball back, life almost seems somewhat normal again.